If you’re listening to these native teachings and you agree with it all, or you think you already know this and are nodding your head, it’s likely that you’re missing the point. You’re learning something if you think (faceplant), “I didn’t think of that before. That’s obvious, but I didn’t see it. I didn’t know that.”
It’s new, right? That there’s a difference between temporary joy and a solid constant joy? Most of us have never thought that chasing after temporary joy could be evil. These ideas should make us stop and think. Go through the day and let it let it sink in. It’s really deep and there are so many reverberations that can come from these ideas. These truths.
If you’re already thinking that you know these things, then you’re not listening.
One thing about native teachings is that they don’t teach in the sort of straight logical line that we’re used to. Not like teachings in our schools. These teachings come from stories. They go into our consciousness and access different parts of our brain. Sometimes we need to just listen. Let the stories penetrate. Let it percolate throughout the day inside your mind. When the stories go deep they can then pop up during the day with new insights. When you’re listening, you’re really listening, then you learn. When you hear something new, then you learn.